Fifteen-year-old Caitlin's entire world falls apart when she recieves the news that her father has died in a shipwreck. Caitlin's older sister, Rebecca, decides the best thing for the two of them to do is to move west to Nebraska, where Rebecca is to marry a man she has never even met. But from the day they arrive in Nebraska and Caitlin meets Rebecca's husband-to-be, she knows this is going to be harder than she ever imagine. Caitlin and Nate fall in love immediatley, but Nate is determined to remain honorable and marry Rebecca, as he promised to do. Living in the same house as Nate is sheer torture for Caitlin, especially after Nate and Rebecca marry and Rebecca becomes pregnant. Although she eventually resigns herself to never having Nate, a terrible tragedy gives them a chance to be together, paving the way for an ending that is both happy and sad (with an especially ironic twist in the end). I wish this book hadn't gone out of print, because it's a wonderful book for teenage girls who love historical romances, like myself (although I was actually quite young, only eleven, when I read it years ago).

soooooooooooooooo gooooooooooooood

It was lovely, I can't take it of my hand. You should read this one

This is one of our favourite books. A humorous look at a new addition to the family. This was the perfect story for our two children when #3 child arrived, the humour takes away some of the stress and expectation for young children when a new baby is joining the family. Also a great gift.

My son loves all the Robert Munsch books. He knows exactly what makes kids laugh and this book is an excellent example of this.

This is my fifth year with the elementary school, yet it is my first year in the library. The first book that I read to the children was 'Aligator Baby'. I believe what the children love the most about this book is that there is never a dull moment! All the children participate in what is going to happen next, and they enjoy finishing the sentences. This tells me that the children are focused, and they want me to read it over and over! It is fun to act out the parts as I read to the classes. (1st grade to 3rd grade.) I really do need more books like this one for the chidren. One of the specials that I have with the children is that each child can share a "favorite page" from a book they borrowed. The students always have something good to say about 'Aligatory Baby'. Thanks

This is a great book. I was transported into the 1970s in the Deep South. This book made me feel if I was with Katrina in everything she does. I hope Mrs.Hickman will keep writing books in this style because I thought it was better than her previous works. Keep it up Mrs. Hickman!

I loved this book! Taught writing, haunting prose, compelling characters all join together to make Katrina's Wings not just a fine read but a true experience. Dive in, take root, and soar. Patricia Hickman's book will stand the test of time. --Lisa Samson, author of The Church Ladies

Katrina and her quirky family are captured in all their vividness with the author's abundant use of poetry and imagery. The writing sings throughout. The scenes evoke images from writings such as Housekeeping, by Marilynne Robinson, but with the hope and faith of the Christian worldview washed all over. This book could be read again and again for sheer literary enjoyment.

Dawn Powell (1896 -1965) wrote novels about her youth in small town Ohio at the turn of the century and about New York City, where she spent most of her adult life. In general, Powell wrote the New York City novels, such as "Turn Magic Wheel", and "The Locusts Have no King" later in her career. They tend to be sharp satires. Her earlier Ohio novels, such as "Dance Night" and "Come Back to Sorrento", are marked, I think, by a depiction of small town life which is critical and bittersweet, as well as somewhat satirical, and by a restlessness and sense of frustration, ...

Powell worked for three years on "My Home is Far Away" which was published in 1944. She had difficulty with the book, writing and rewriting the various scenes as she tried to fictionalize her biography and turn it into a novel. The book appears in the midst of her New York novels, and it is a throwback in to her earlier books with its setting in Ohio, its focus on childhood, and its bittersweet tone. Powell intended this novel as the first of a three-part trilogy, but the other two volumes never materialized.

Most of Powell's novels seem to me distinctly autobiographical in tone and "My Home is Far away" is particularly so. It tells the story of a family, focusing on three young sisters, Lena, Marcia, and Florrie, their father Harry, their mother Daisy, and, after Daisy's death, their stepmother Idah. There are basiclly three parts to the story: the period leading to the death of Daisy, and intervening period in which the three girls are raised by their father and assorted other relatives, and a the period after their father remarries and the girls are subjected to a cruel stepmother. When they find they can no longer take the abuse, they leave home and come into their own lives.

The title of the novel, "My Home is Far Away" derives from an Irish song that the girls sing with their mother. The title well captures some of the rootlesness of the family as they move from here to there. It also evokes well the longing for a home life and for a stability which the family, and Dawn Powell, never had.

One of the problems with this book is diffentiating the characters of three young girls. On the whole, this is handled effectively. The Dawn Powell character is the middle sister, Marcia, who is plain but highly precocious. The older girl, Lena, is much more sociable and outgoing.

The family moved a great deal from one small Ohio town to another and to different places within various towns. The most effective scenes in the book for me were the pictures of many dingy, run-down hotels and small town back streets during which the girls spent much of their childhood. The father, Harry, was a travelling salesman who, for most of the book, has difficulty holding a job and spending time with his family. He professes to love his family, but doesn't provide well. He spends his time and money hanging around with his friends and, apparently, with women in various towns.

One key moment in the book occurs rather early in it when the girls' mother dies. This scene is beautifully told. Then we see Harry trying to shunt the girls off to various relatives until he finally attempts to care for them himself. The marriage to Idah brings Harry some stability, but at a terrible cost. Idah is a shrewish, jealous stepmother. The two older girls both leave home to get away from her.

This book has some slow moments, but it is a wonderful coming-of-age novel and gives a good picture of the rural midwest. It is good that Dawn Powell's novels are in print and readily accessible. It is intriguing to think how she might have proceeded in the remaining two projected volumes of her autobiographical trilogy.

Dawn Powell was no whiner- and as this highly autobiographical novel attests, she had plenty of reason to complain! The story of her turn of the century Ohio childhood, is told through the viewpoint of Marcia, the gifted, plain, middle child of three motherless sisters. Despite a neglectful, absent and grandiose father, ( a child himself,) and a host of inadequate relatives, the girls are largely delighted with their world, which by modern standards is one of poverty and neglect. The book is an object lesson in attitudes and expectations that become reality.
This was an era that discouraged pity, and would have been dumbfounded by modern 'confessional' trends. The attitudes toward children, would be barbaric today. The girls remained loyal to their father, even as they grew to understand his weaknesses, and they found delight in characters that would be considered dangerous and forbidden today. Their own grandmother, refusing to attend to fire safety, managed to burn down four houses, including her own, from which weeks before the girls had just been removed. This is a story of a triumph of childhood with nothing of the tone of the adult looking back in a lament. In some ways, it is similar to "Angela's Ashes," another horrible experience of childhood, that uniquely avoids the subject of depression and rage. This even holds true for the archetypical wicked stepmother, an unrelenting, hateful woman who sadistically confiscated or forbade any object or activity of pleasure.
The most amazing part of Marcia, is this 'game' she played, when she was in the midst of an ordeal. She could reach down inside of herself and become the person who was devoid of reactions to the current stress and be completely strong and capable of enduring the trauma through to the end. It is a testimony, spoken by a child, of the human spirit, and the infinite manifestations and sources of power by which mankind survives. I will definitely read this book again, for its fresh outlook and restrained economy.

I have only recently begun to hear about the little-known American author Dawn Powell, and this is the first of her novels that I have read. It is so hard to believe that Ms. Powell's work has been largely ignored for decades--she writes so beautifully, with wit and pathos in equal measures. Dawn Powell's passion for writing comes through on every page, her characters lively and real, their adventures and personalities engaging, and her descriptions of turn-of-the-century Ohio vivid. She captures the points of view and imaginations of her child protagonists (the three sisters, who are central to the story) with complete accuracy--I found myself smiling in recognition at what it was like to think like a child again. And what's more, this is largely a true story--based on Dawn Powell's own sad childhood, when she lost her mother and gained an abusive stepmother (and seemed to be mainly neglected by her ineffectual father). All in all, a moving and enthralling story--the main character reminded me of Little Women's Jo as well as Jane Eyre, at times. Highly recommended.

this was a great book. its about two sisters the younger has ocd and the older has to take care of her. if thats not enoguh they feel constanly compared to there older siblings who died years before. then a painter nmaed a nnie comes in to there life and makes it better.

I can confidently state that Adele Griffin, when I read her other books, will probably become one of my favorite authors. I LOVED "The Other Shepards". My older brother died in a car wreck when I was a toddler, too young to really know or remember, so I sort of understand what Holland and Geneva were going through. (I loved their names. I wish I had a name like Geneva.) Holland seemed to be the realistic older sister -- wishing to help Geneva but becoming understandably impatient at times with her sister's bizarre behavior. I didn't realize Annie was a ghost till the end, though I thought she seemed pretty peculiar. Not much actually happened in the story -- I'd call it a novel of adjustment -- but it was a pleasant read. I'd highly recommend it.

this is a really great book! from the start u are drawn into the story and the main charachters. the story is about thier time spent w/annie, a sort of imaginary friend and how holland and her sister discover new things about themselves and learn to sort of live thier lives in the present instead of basing it on the past. it's kinda hard to explain but i reallly recommend reading it for yourself!

In my opinion, this is the best mystery in the Sister Frevisse series of mysteries. Why is this so? Well, firstly, there are several deaths, with the finger of suspicion pointing several ways. The identity of the guilty party is not certain until the end. [If you knew who it was without peeking, don't tell!].

Secondly, there are several sub-plots each with their own mysteries. There is the uncertain fate of the nunnery's steward who has been accused of being a serf and thus stands to lose his freedom - and that of his children. We do not know who accused him, and why. There is also the mystery about a certain very prosperous man in the village and his wife and family. What are his intents, and those of his wife? Was she really guilty of all that the village gossip alleged?

There are other puzzles to follow - such as who will get a certain piece of land, what will happen to the harvest, and so forth. The depiction of village life, which includes several scenes of cases being decided by the elders, is alone worth reading this novel for. It is rare that mystery novels set in the medieval era focus in such detail on the life of ordinary villeins (the proper term) and free peasants.

I look forward to reading more of Sister Frevisse's adventures. The series will not appeal to all, including those who are more knowledgeable about the period and/or tired of medieval mysteries using nuns or monks as sleuths. To enjoy this book, you must like medieval mysteries and enjoy reading about the nitty-gritty details of convent life (some of which can be less than pleasant).

This is one series that really deserves the comparison with Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series. Fortunately, I don't believe in hierarchies, because I'd be hard-pressed to choose between the two. Frazer is a very gifted writer and these work both as historical novels and as mysteries. Since Frevisse, like Cadfael is a Benedictine, it is interesting to see glimpses of how the order had changed over the centuries.

This is typical of Frazer: the characterizations are excellent and often complex, the background is well drawn and the story is gripping. Frevisse, having more experience in dealing with the outside world than most of her sisters is sent to serve as temporary representative for lands that her convent co-owns. This is a complex job; she must manage to work and share authority with people whose interests are opposed to the convent's. Frazer gives us a vivid account of the machinations that underly the struggle to control land and wealth, even among the peasantry.

This is the first book of this author that i read. I picked up the book purely because it was set in the 15th century England and wanted some idea about a typical English village of that time. And I was not disappointed. Very well written and good characterisation. The story starts slowly but I think this is required for a sound understanding of the settings, the characters, their relationships and their respective roles in the village. In addition to the intriguing mystery, the descriptions of the local governemnt and the role of church in those times is a good learning. In particular, the judicial process of those times has been described well. The dialogue is sharp and at times, witty as well. But dont look for a murder from the first chapter. Be fascinated by the judicial process in the beginning and then get into the nystery as it starts to develop and soon couple of corpses appear. The finger of suspicion does point several ways. Also, there are several sub plots as well. A very engrossing book. Worth reading for the description of the village life, the court and judicial process,and the lifes of the ordinary people. You will not be disappointed in reading this.

warter wishes is a verey GOOD book that mackes you readand read and when they sneak in to joe's room and geat the boutle if you haven't read this book you should and i would like to say thank you to (MY TEACHER MR,CROWE FOR ENCOURAGING ME TO READ)

I would recommend this book to younger children. It explained every thing clearly. You could understand every word they said. I would recommend 5th to 7th grade
Water wishes is about 3 kids who find a bottle with paper n the sea. These 3 kids realize wishes are not every- thing.

It all started when Sam and Polly were playing in front of their summer house on the ocean....As they were playing they see something mysterious floating along in the water,and imediatly they go to try and get it.But,when a large wave crashes on them,their 13-year old Brother Joe comes and rescues them,but they can't find the mysterious green bottle....Later while in Joe's room they see it!They figure Joe must have taken whlie they were underwater....So they devise a plan to get their bottle back.......After they get it they open it and it says That whoever snatches this bottle from the Ocean gets 3 wishes from the Element......Wow,3 wishes!!!!!!Even though Sam and Polly aren't sure what that means,but they try their wishes imediatly...They come up with many wishes-like wishes for beauty,fame,wealth,new cars,the ability to fly-But none of them work!!!!Then they go back out to the beach,and Polly kinda of flippetly says,"We might as well as wished for something silly,like to become a mermaid,or something like that!"....Well, a storm suddenly brews,and the waves crash,and one comes up and touches Polly's leg-And now she's a mermaid!!!!!!!They have to tell Joe about the wishes and what happened,But Joe has his own wish,and the next day he disapears,leaving no trace-except a comic book and a pair of sunglasses.......

I Loved this book-and I think its the best in the series!If you read them You kinda learn a little about Ancient Greek Gods,and the stories in this series are simply fun!!!!!!I recomened this seies to anyone-even adults,they're a quick and fun read!!!!!Hope this review was helpful to You!

Henry, Jeessie, Violet, and Benny's parn\ents died and they end up living in a box car from an old train. They could have gone to their grandpa, but they thought he was mean. Then finally when Henry was working, he heard that his grandpa was looking for them. So Henry told the news to the lthers and they decided to go and live with their grandfather. One day Benny found a diary and the mystery began. They found out that the diary was a little girl's. They found the diary behind the wall with some coins. How Benny found was by having an idea to put a hole in the wall and a bell to wake Benny or Rory up. That's when Benny found the dairy when he was working on his idea.

okay, if you are looking for the best boxcar children book ever, this is it!!!!!! i LOVED this book! o wish i still had it! (PARENTS: DO NOT CONVINCE YOUR CHILDREN TO GET RID OF THEIR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD BOOKS!!!!!!!!!) this book is wonderful. i still remember the first time i read it: SPOILERS! and they finally figured out that behind the house meant behind the house PICTURE, which was in the little girl's room, if i remember correctly. and there was the whole coin collection! i love those alden kids! they are so self-reliable! yes, i am 19, almost 20, and haven't probabley read this book in seven years, but i still remember it, thats how good this ONE boxcar children book was!

I finished this book in like 30 minutes. It was so good! Benny invites a friend from Canada to come and they try to communicate through cups on a string through the wall.They find a journal with some strange coins. I liked this book and you will, too.

I love reading fairy tale novelizations, because I'm the one who always wants to know the why behind characters' actions. Novels offer a much better glimpse into fairy tales than a simple story book. This novel knows what it's doing.

The main characters, Blanche and Rose, are well-drawn and believable; their personalities are distinct but both likable. Doman also does a good job drawing Bear as a sensitive hulk. The swing dancing scene is one of my favorites! The plot flows smoothly and quickly, with heroic adventures along the way, but nothing that a real person couldn't handle. Sometimes, even if you like a fantasy book, the characters seem superhuman (well, I suppose they occasionally are!). But in this real-world adventure, all characters are true to life.

My one complaint is that Doman resorts to the Nancy Drew technique of having the villain explain his plot to his victim, so that the reader figures out what's going on. Still, it's only her first book (written at age 23 or so), and it's remarkable! I can't wait to see what else Regina Doman has for us.

I am fifteen years old, and this is my ultimate favorite book!The characters are believable, and the plot is fascinating. It is a mystery/adventure/romance book that, without being preachy, teaches strong morals and christian virtues. I find it refreshing to read a book that has the courage to do all that.

After reading this excellent book a few times each year since it has come out, I have finally decided to read the Grimm's version and may I say that Ms. Doman is one really acurate writer. I really hope she DOES continue the story of Blanche, Bear, Rose and Fish as she mentioned at the end of her book. Also, after reading a book like this, I feel so lucky to be a homeschooling Catholic, Ms. Doman makes every reader feel proud of her religion and so VERY proud of Bear and Fish for their courage. I hope everyone who reads any of these reviews will find the hear(and the time!)to pick up this book and read it and read it and read it, over and over and over and over....

Contrary to the title, there is very little sweetness in Sweet Hearts; every character in this book has a personal tragedy. As the narrator, Marie Zimmer, tells us, "There's no safe place in this story."

Sweet Hearts encompasses several generations of family history in compact prose. Thon mercifully provides a map of Montana and a family tree to help the reader keep track of the cast of characters. The characters' speech is also compact, demonstrating the strained communication among this family.

For the first fifty pages or so, my heart broke about once per page. An image, a turn of phrase, a single word would capture the bleakness inherent in these character's lives. I think that was necessary to open the reader up to the story, to prepare for what's to come.

This is a demanding novel in a number of ways. Most of all, the ending asks the reader to forgive the unforgivable. You can't just read this book as an intellectual exercise--you need to let it take you where it goes, to find compassion for all the characters. It is by no means easy or light reading, but I found it entirely rewarding. This book is worth all the effort.

"Sweet Hearts" wowed me from the first pages--I loved the tension of the voices here, the mystery of the past, the delicate, deaf narrator who is yet deft and powerful and gorgeous in her understanding of her damaged people. I've never felt so connected to such hurt and harm--Thon has a way of making every human corner so accessible and understandable, all while making poetry of these lives. The book builds and builds and grows in subtle layers--lovely stuff, an experience more than a read. "Sweet Hearts" leads me back to my old favorite Thon books--she's a master of the short story, too. I've got to stop now, go back to the book--it's one of those you read and finish and just turn back to page one to experience again. Melanie Rae Thon is a national treasure. I want to give this one six stars.

For those who have never encountered the work of Melanie Rae Thon, this book serves as a powerful introduction. Thon's characters are memorable, palpable reminders of our own difficult journeys through family and history. Marie, a deaf woman, retells the story of her sister's children against the backdrop of their own submerged family history. But Thon's storytelling isn't merely a fascinating tale of children turned criminal and abandoned by family and society; Thon's writing is marked by lyricism and grace. She brings us Flint and Cecile, children we have seen echoes of in our contemporary world--the ones we hear about before clicking off the television at night--and we see the family that shaped them, the family that refuses to accept responsibility for them. Marie is the novel's quiet conscience, assessing her own role in the children's crimes. The result: we, as readers, question our own culpability and our own capacity for compassion. Thon's characters jar us out of our own passivity, and readers emerge from the novel with a new sense of self. It is a stunning, remarkable book, and Thon is unlike any other living writer today.